Definition
Cellulose nitrate (also called nitrocellulose or collodion cotton) is a chemical derivative of cellulose produced by esterification of cellulose with nitric acid in the presence of sulfuric acid. Depending on the degree of nitration, products with varying properties are obtained, ranging from highly flammable to highly explosive compounds. The material is soluble in certain organic solvents, forming clear, viscous solutions or films. Due to its flammability and instability, cellulose nitrate has been replaced by safer materials in many applications.
Use in the textile industry
In the textile industry, cellulose nitrate was historically used as a base material for artificial silk (Chardonnet silk), in which nitrocellulose solutions were spun through spinnerets and subsequently denitrated. It was also used in textile coatings and finishing agents to impart stiffness, luster, or water repellency to woven fabrics. Due to the significant fire hazard and the competing development of safer cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate plays virtually no role in today's textile industry.
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